Tag: Knowing God

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Unsinkable

Daily Reading

Job 40-42

Daily Thought

And the Lord said to Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it” (Job 40:1-2). God’s question for Job: Do you know who I am?

That’s the question, and we dare not get the answer wrong. 

“Are you capable of forgiving and loving God even when you have found out that He is not perfect, even when He has let you down and disappointed you by permitting bad luck and sickness and cruelty in His world, and permitting some of those things to happen to you? Can you learn to love and forgive Him despite His limitations, as Job does?” That was written by Rabbi Harold Kushner in his book, “When Bad Things Happen To Good People.”

Really? An “A” for effort? Good job for trying? Kushner didn’t believe God could change what happened so he changed God. 

Remember the Titanic? “There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers,” said Phillip Franklin, White Star Line Vice-President, just before midnight, April 14, 1912. The Titanic sunk, April 15, 1912, 2:20am. If you claim you are unsinkable, don’t sink. 

Kushner got it wrong. He was mistaken about God and about Job. When bad things happen, knowing why they happen or what to do is not as important as knowing the one to trust. Job rested at last, not because he knew how or why, but he knew who. He knew God. “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted,” said Job (Job 42:2). Unsinkable.

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job. ~Job 42:10

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are good. Every good gift comes from You. You are holy and just and righteous. You are love.

There are times when people and events may argue against that, but God, I will not be swayed. I know that You are true, the First and the Last, and that in all things, You work for the good of those who love You. Father God, I love You. My life is Yours, no matter what.

Amen

Daily Question

How much do you trust God?

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God Will Be Known

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 5-8

Daily Thought

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God is announcing judgment upon the nation Israel, but it did not have to be that way. Israel had a special place in God’s plan for the world, “This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.” (Ezekiel 5:5). Israel was the nation chosen of God to be what Jesus later described as “the light of the world, a city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14), a nation displaying the goodness and glory of God to all others. “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). With great privilege comes great responsibility, a quote attributed to Voltaire, FDR, and Spiderman, but Jesus said it first, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). Israel had been given much in order that by her conduct the world would know God.

That was one way, but there is another. To a nation that had spurned God’s blessing comes God’s judgment, “Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains. Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against you, and judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations” (Ezekiel 7:7-8). The purpose of God remains the same, however. In chapters six and seven of Ezekiel, God speaks to the purpose of his judgment against Israel, that “they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 6:7, 10, 13, 14; 7:4, 9, 27), a theme repeated over sixty times throughout the book of Ezekiel. One way or another, God will be known. One way is better.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:16

Daily Prayer

My God, Maker of the heavens and the earth, Creator of all things, Owner of cattle on a thousand hills. Not a thousand cows, a thousand hills of cows. While I clutch the world’s trinkets, You offer Your treasures. The choice should really not be that difficult.

The greatest of all treasures, my God, is knowing You. May I cast aside all that entangles me, no matter how much it delights, if it stands in the way of knowing You. You, God, are my treasure.

Amen

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One God

Daily Reading

Numbers 1-2

Daily Thought

We count people, as well as we can. “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head” (Numbers 1:2). There are 7,700,000,000 people on this planet, more or less. Best guess is 100 billion people have been born since the dawn of the human race. Approximately 255 babies are born every minute. Right around 18,600,000 birthdays are on February 11.

Fortunately, God doesn’t guess. God does not know more or less, best estimate, approximately, right around, or just about. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). God knows exactly, by name; God knows you.

P.S., There is exactly one God.

Daily Prayer

God, Your care for me is wonderful and amazing. David wrote in his psalm, “Who am I that You think about me?” And yet You do. The God of the heavens and the earth thinks of me more than I think of him. Forgive me for that. May I walk with you all day every day.

Father, the value that You have placed in me, may I see that value in others. That each person is fearfully and wonderfully made, a work of art by You, my Creator God. Truly, God I love You as I love others, because they are Your workmanship. You have given me faith to believe in You, a certainty of hope for eternity, and You give me love, the greatest of Your gifts. May I give Your love to others.

Amen